Crowdfunding campaign gives OUTtv viewers influence on the development of the new interactive TV platform 

"The Pitch" gives viewers a glimpse into new interactive TV service

In the space of ten years, OUTtv has grown to become the largest TV brand for gay-minded in Europe with a reach of more than 5 million viewers. To continue this growth in the coming decade, the lifestyle channel OUTtv is kicking off today with the TV program The Pitch to introduce the new interactive TV platform to its supporters. Viewers and interested parties can directly influence the further development of this interactive platform through a crowdfunding campaign.

Marc Putman, founder and CEO of OUTtv is enthusiastic about the new TV platform; “The Uniqueness is that the platform can match users based on viewing behavior, interests and physical characteristics. With this, OUTtv is the first TV content provider to combine elements of popular dating apps (such as Grindr and Tinder) and social media data. The European Commission has also pledged 300,000 in funding to make the platform accessible in several European countries to generate attention for (European) films for the OUTtv target group. ”

The crowdfunding will ensure that the platform is expanded with functionalities that the user wants. The aim of the campaign is to raise EUR 150,000, which includes the application of Google Vision technology to better facilitate preferences for TV programs and personal matching. The app software developer of the TV platform, Lizard Apps from Rotterdam, is working together with OD Media in Utrecht and the University of Delft.

For the crowdfunding campaign, OUTtv has produced the TV program "The Pitch", in which Marc Putman, CEO of OUTtv, pits the new platform to a jury. The jury consisting of Annemarie van Gaal, (former jury member of Dragon's Den), Pim Bertens, (founder of BINCK Bank), Richard Stoop, (investor banker at Pinq Mango Group in Sweden) and Robin Slakhorst (founder of the first crowdfunding) platform Symbid), all well-known and successful entrepreneurs. In the program, presented by Frits Huffnagel, Marc tries to convince the jury members of and interest them in OUTtv's unique TV platform.

Interested parties can participate in the crowdfunding campaign via the Symbid website: https://www.symbid.nl/ideas/8174-number-1-in-gaylifestyle-outtv

Link to tv-program the Pitch https://vimeo.com/242031467